Right away you can tell that this tattoo shop has some character just like its many professionals inside. I knew I was going to a great place when I realized that it was also located on top of a bar that shared the same name. First tattoo I've gotten in 7 years. My tattoo artist I picked was Tommy. If you look at his work you can see that he primarily does really clean and amazingly colorful traditional style work, but don't think that's all he's capable of. A few weeks ago he did a spot on cartoon tattoo for me of courage the cowardly dog (see photo attached). Two days ago he did a fantastic rendition of an idea I gave him of a alien spaceship with its tractor beam in the shape of a pint glass (see attached photo). I especially love the metal like shading of the flying saucer and the beautiful blue of the night sky. Can't wait to get more done from him. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Courage the cowardly dog - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

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Now let me first say that I have been tattooed here three times by Jake (Jakob) and I was originally happy with the overall service all be it a little slow. But the reason I stopped seeing Jake over a year ago was because he did want to draw out my sleeve. He said we didn't need to and that we could just "do it as we go." He also refused to take a picture of another tattoo when I was coming to him with inspiration for what I was looking for in a tattoo. He then told me a picture of a broken stop watch also wouldn't work, because he couldn't properly see the light reflecting off of a picture and that I should try to find a real stopwatch at an antique store. After about a year of not going to him I decided that maybe I was in the wrong for not communicating well and just going with the flow a little too much so I reached out. I explained that there was a bit of anxiety with not having it drawn out and that I'd be happy to pay for the work itself or pay a larger deposit. So we set a consultation date, and I missed it. It genuinely completely slipped my mind. I lost my brother two years ago, and as many of us know sometimes with grief you think you're feeling better, but your memory just isn't there. I do my best to put things in my calendar, set alarms, do all the adhd hacks, and etc. I have never before just missed an appointment. I've always communicated when it came to rescheduling and potentially being late. When I missed that consultation Jake really showed his true colors. He was just rude and that is not the kind person I once trusted to work on my body. As someone who has also claimed to be neurodivergent and have memory issues you might think he'd have a little bit of understanding especially when I've actually had work done with him before. I finally made the decision that I'm not going to try to get another appointment with him, because his kind and fun energy is no longer there. I called the shop to ask about how I would go about getting the deposit I never used back considering I always paid directly to the shop. I spoke with Christie who was rude as well. She basically told me I need to take my deposit up with Jake, asked why I wanted it back, and told me that I should've told him I wasn't comfortable with his "process" when I was having the tattoo done. Honestly her nasty attitude is the reason this is a one star not a three star review. She could've just explained that the deposit is given to the artist not held with the shop, but instead she felt the need to be rude. Honestly I'm not going back to Jake to even ask about the deposit. He can keep the money. I just wanted to share my experience. I'm sure there are a lot of other lovely tattoo artists at this shop, but I wouldn't recommended Jake or Christie for tattooing/piercing (I'm pretty sure that's what she does as I feel like I bought some jewelry with her the last time I came.). read more

Outstanding shop. Large, clean, stylish, very very busy. Inexpensive. Outstanding staff. Bit of a walkup but a great place. Great location but parking sucks (not the fault of the shop). Got a wonderful tatt of my Navy Combat Corpsman wings with "Semper Fi" underneath in a sweet script. Breathtaking. Done by David Labrava, who likes to go by just DL. He is an actor (starred as "Happy" on the FX network series "Sons of Anarchy", among many others), producer, director, screenwriter, glaasblower and tattoo artist. He says, "I was a tattoo artist before the show and I am still a tattoo artist". Very humble, nice guy. Outstanding artist. He did my very detailed tatt in exactly an hour, no kidding, and it is fabulous. $150.00. Excellent! I will be back to see DL for at least one more. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

Oh hell yes!! Rich Martinez was my artist and did an amazing job for my first tattoo. He copied my nieces design perfectly. I'll be back...! read more

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Kristie does piercings and she is awesome! Sweet, professional and clearly knows what she is doing. Thanks so much Kristie! I'm usually more anxious going somewhere new, especially given my not so good prior experience with piercing. However, the staff and comfortable space made me feel at ease pretty quickly! read more

Christie did such a great job with my nipple piercings!! Definitely would go back for more piercings from her! $120 total:)

Just had my ears pierced by Kristie Piresey at Lucky 13. Kristie was super professional and easy to work with and I am super happy with the results. The studio itself is really nice and clean and feels like a alternative oasis. Thanks Kristie! read more

Lucky 13 was awesome!!! I'm so glad I went here for my first tattoo and Charlie was great. My tattoo came out perfectly and the shop is gorgeous. Thanks Charlie and Lucky 13, I'll be back for my next tattoo read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

Let me start by saying, I am a true Taurus: sooo stubborn. I'm super picky about most things and went into the shop with a concrete idea of what I wanted. My bro Zo exclusively goes to Richard (Rictorskillz) and I loved his sleeve work, so I figured I'd give him a try. Richard took my idea and made it so much better than I imagined. Even the free-hand sketch he did on my arm was so dope, I had to take a picture of it. During the session, Richard kept checking in to make sure I was okay (well, as okay as I could be with a needle stabbing me repeatedly). He even let me use his phone charger when my battery got low. The tattoo came out so beautifully. He was right about adding smoke and his color choices mesh perfectly. Richard's a super dope artist, and a pretty cool guy. I would definitely recommend him for your next project! The shop itself is clean and has a cool, open vibe. The loud music playing was chill and didn't distract from the television we were watching ("Norcos" on Roku!). Food and drinks are not allowed in the tattoo areas, but there's an open kitchen spot to have a quick snack, or you could eat downstairs at Lucky 13 or Scolaris. Everyone in the shop was friendly and I thought it was cool how some of the artists showed their work around when they were done or popped by to see what cool thing another artist was creating. All in all, it was a cool experience and Richard knocked out two amazing pieces (a tribal piece for my brother and my Buddha with lotus). Hit him up for an appointment or stop by the shop to chat him up! read more

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Was recently tattooed by Jacob Wyrd now at the very relaxing lucky tattoo in alameda. Some of the cleanest and most impressive art I've ever seen is now on my hands for life thanks to the man. I came to him with my ideas and he made sure that the vision came to fruition. Aside from being a master of his craft he also ain't bad to talk to for the hours you spend in his chair. I've brought the kids by the shop to check it out and see some art and he's been more than kind which isn't always the way tattoo parlors can be towards children. Reasonably priced, excellent work and a good human. Will return. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - The bride to my right by Jacob Wyrd - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

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I have been wanting to get more tattoos, but wasn't confident where to go. Walked in and showed the tattoo artist (Charlie) a bunch of pictures of tattoos I would love to get. We picked ladybugs today. I am the most wimpy person, but Charlie was wonderful and patient. O will be back to continental my tattooing adventures. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Ladybugs - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

April did my sister's first piece on her bicep. I fell in love, so naturally for my second piece which was a hugely meaningful piece, I went straight to her. I drew up what I wanted, explained what it meant, and it came to life. I've never been so happy, it's exactly what I wanted, and April is literally such a joy to hang out with while she tattoos. I couldn't recommend her more. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Beautiful piece done by April. Couldn't ask for anything better. - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

I was lucky enough to get two tattoos done by Natalie Phillips. The most recent one is a girly moth designed by Natalie herself. She was great with her collaboration with me about the image and came up with so many great ideas that I loved! She was very detail oriented and awesome with putting me at ease when the time came to get inked. I loved how the moth turned out, Natalie was quick and smooth with the process and awesome to chat with while she is doing the ink. I love her designs and style and will definitely be coming back to her with another custom tattoo! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - My lovely moth done by Natalie Phillips, on my right thigh. - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

DL did a great job, my husband had a tattoo and he made it look alot better... Will be coming back soon read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

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By far my favorite place to get a tattoo. Artists, there are great at what they do, easy to talk with. Oliver is doing my tattoo and does a great freehand. His ideas are great and loved how the design turned out. Can't wait to not only finish what was started but hope to add more after. Stop by there, they have a nice lounge with photo books along with videos on the TV mounted screens cycling through some of the tattoos that were done at this place. read more

I got a custom arm piece done by Nic (Anastasio) and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. He freehanded the entire thing without a stencil so he could make it fit and look absolutely perfect on my arm. He really listened to my idea for the piece and did a great job making it his own. He added extra shading to it to make it pop and he was willing to stay after closing so we could get it done. I would 100% recommend this shop and specifically Anastasio as your artist. Below are when my piece was fresh vs. healed. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Healed tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

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Upstairs from a dive bar, but without the dive feeling. It's a huge tattoo parlor that feels light and open because of the design. I knew that I wanted Natalie to do my tattoo, but just decided to stop by on a Sunday afternoon. She was there, interested and ready to go! It's the kind of place that makes you feel welcome no matter where you are on the tattoo spectrum. Other artists came to see what Natalie was doing for me. It was a simple black and grey tattoo, but it was done beautifully and definitely one of my favorite tattoo experiences and result. Thank you, Natalie! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Black & grey swallow by Natalie. Perfect! - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

I love my tattoo and will definitely come back! Tommy was a great tattoo artist, and did a wonderful design and excited it better than I'd even hoped. He even let me eat in the staff lunchroom on a break (Got food from next door that was delicious). Saw another tattoo artist doing amazing work as well. Highly recommend! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Flowers tattooed on my right hip by Tommy at Lucky 13 Tattoos. - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

My daughter and I had a consultation with Jacob Wyrd. He listened to our ideas and created the best designs for us . He put his own touch on the designs which I loved. Jacob is a amazing artist and made us feel very comfortable. I was so impressed with his work I will get all my tattoos with him in the future. My daughter loved hers too and it was just what she wanted. I highly recommend Jacob for your next tattoo. They also have many other very talented artists to choose from. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Awesome tattoos by Jacob Wyrd. We love them!! - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

I haven't gotten a tattoo in so long, so trying to find a trustworthy shop was difficult for me. I'm always in Alameda with my boyfriend & walk by this place very often. I told my sister about it since both of us were planning to get a tattoo together, and she agreed that we should just go here. We did a walk-in around 230 PM on a Friday, which wasn't busy at all. I'm a very indecisive person when it comes to tattoos, but luckily I had Nat as my artist.She was so helpful with the design and the size of it. She catered to every single one of my request and was so nice about it! Usually I'm very tense when I get a tattoo, but she casually talked to me while I was getting it done & it really made me feel relaxed and comfortable. To be honest... everyone here made me feel welcome. I'm usually intimated at first, but not here. They were all friendly!! I definitely don't regret coming here :) read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

Thank you Charlie! He recreated my grandmothers handwriting and message perfectly. Took no time at all, and painless! I'll be back! Thank you for this memorable tattoo. read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

Lucky 13 Tattoos is great! Sitting just atop the Lucky 13 bar in downtown Alameda, it's a chill spot with lots of great food around (and did I mention the nearby bar?) and an overall nice atmosphere. The shop interior is classic and comfortable, and all the staff are nice and welcoming. You can see many of the artists' work throughout the shop, and there are styles suited for everyone! Most recently I had a tattoo appointment with Nic, who I found from Instagram and the website. He worked with me to figure out the design I wanted; I brought a rough idea and he offered me his creative input, and after redrawing and everything he came up with the final design I loved. He was professional and knowledgable yet friendly, and the whole appointment was an enjoyable experience. The tattoo came out looking even better than I imagined, and healed nicely. Thanks again Nic! If you're in the Bay Area I highly recommend contacting Lucky 13, browsing their artists' portfolios, and booking your next appointment. This shop feels like a hidden gem and you won't be disappointed. read more

Recently completed my first session with Jakob and it was amazing. GREAT artist and really down to earth guy. Easy to talk too and really engaged in the creative process. I did a lot of research but knew that jakob was the perfect person to do my DBZ-Marvel-DC half sleeve. What really impressed me was when we sat down for our consultation, he photographed my arm on his iPad Pro and started to sketch out ideas. I've never seen an artist do that in all my years or getting tattooed. A couple days before the session he sent me over a rough sketch and asked how I felt about it. LOVED IT!! When it was time for the session everything went great and he has a really gentle hand. Can't wait until we add color to the piece. Thanks again Jakob, and see you soon!! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - Start of my Marvel-DC-DBZ sleeve done by Jakob Wyrd! - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

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I had an American eagle tattoo done by Charlie and it was amazing. The environment was cool and he was easy to talk to which made the whole experience better. The tattoo itself is super nice and I will highly recommend his work. read more

Went as a walk in yesterday. Had to wait a couple hours but I had no problem doing so. I was even able to have some tea. I want that tea cup btw.. I was tattooed by Nat. Who was very professional, detailed, and comforting my first 10 min. Even though I have tattoos, it's been a year and 5 months so had to get used to the pain again. After that, just a walk in the park. We had wonderful chat and I think she enjoyed this tattoo as well. Everyone was polite and social. It was a wonderful experience this tattoo I have is my favorite. It was a great price. Lower than I thought and thst is wonderful!! and well done. Safe to say I will be coming her for now on. Expect me very soon again!! I highly recommend this wonderful tattoo parlour!! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - My voctoruan gorhic portait on my thigh. Done by Nat - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

On September 22nd, I went to Lucky 13 Tattoos for my very first tattoo. Growing up, I always appreciated tattoos from a distance and never really thought about getting inked up myself in the past. After this session, I definitely want to come crawling back for more. A couple days beforehand, I had an impromptu consultation with Jakob, the tattoo artist that I have been following for a couple months now on social media before my best friend got her second tattoo done by Natalie on her birthday. Upon entering the little shop (that used to be an apartment space) for the very first time, I was impressed by how clean it was. When it comes to getting a tattoo, cleanliness and sanitariness are of upmost importance, and because it was so clean, I was confident about the sterile working environment. The second thing that captured my attention was all the artwork that littered the walls, the figurines that accompanied you while you sat and got inked, and the wonderful portfolios to flip through that were splayed out in the lobby that has a very comfortable couch. My best friend got her tattoo, then her sister, and I remember one of the artists asking me, "So when are you getting your tattoo?" because I was present for both of theirs. I kept saying that I was going to wait until I had the money for it. They typically do $150 an hour, although it really just depends on the artist and what they decide. With my favorite, Jakob, he's focused on creating art that you will be pleased with, and then producing it, rather than pinpointing the price. He likes to focus on the artistic process, which expresses his drive as an artist that I love and appreciate so much. Back to my first tattoo. I'll start with the consultation first. I walked into the shop in the evening around an hour or two before they were closing and inquired about a potential Metallica tattoo. When I was asked who I had in mind, I wasn't entirely sure, so I said Jakob and Oliver, the owner of the shop. Jakob, luckily, was there and was free and we ended up doing a consultation that night. The one thing I love about Jakob is not only the fact that he is extremely easy to talk to, but that he is also professional, passionate, and artistic in every sense of the word. He whipped out the iPad and started to conjure up an idea of what my potential tattoo would look like. I knew for certain that I wanted the Black Album snake with the words "Don't go looking for snakes you might find them" around it because Slither is one of my favorite songs by them. The Black Album wasn't my favorite by Metallica, but the snake on it is an iconic symbol for the band, and it has some of my favorite songs on it. He gave me a rough visual of what it'd look like, and I was pretty satisfied with it. I laid down $50 as a deposit and came back a couple days later for the tattoo session. I was nervous mainly because I wasn't sure how I was going to handle the pain of getting a tattoo. People who have gotten them in the past told me that it made them want to cry or that it was too much. Honestly, when I stepped in and Jakob started to work, I kinda shrugged those ideas off. He told me beforehand that he wasn't heavy handed, and my best friend told me that the first tat artist she went to was, and it made it uncomfortable, so I took his word for it. When he started, I could hear the whir of the machine and it felt like an IV needle was digging into my skin the whole time, but after a while, I forgot that I was getting tattooed and almost fell asleep. I was as still as a rock the whole time, and the most that I did was wince. I had a friend with me, but since she was under 18, was forced to sit in a corner and watch from a distance. Needless to say that after this experience, I am definitely coming back. Jakob is definitely my favorite, and I want a tattoo from each artist that works there someday. Quality work and content by all of them. Pricing is fair for what you get, and everyone is totally pumped about art and are extremely friendly. If you're wondering about parking, there is some street parking space that have a meter as well as a parking garage by Alameda High School. You just go to L13 and make a right (or left, depending where you are) onto Encinal, then make a right again and go down to the parking garage. For two hours, I believe it's around $2, and the machine accepts bills, coins, and card. The garage has little lights up top that turn red if the spot is taken and green if it is free. People weren't kidding when they say that getting inked up is addicting. read more

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We found this spot, thanks to yelp, on a random Sunday afternoon and were very fortunate to find our new favorite tattoo place and tattoo artist Carlos. The shop is so awesome and exactly what you imagine when going into a tattoo shop. Carlos was amazing!! SO accommodating and makes you feel immediately comfortable. He did an incredible job with all of our tattoos! I definitely recommend this place and Carlos specifically! read more

$10 for them to screw on the ball of my rook earring when it literally took them less than a minute. Overpriced much?! Umm no thanks, not coming back. read more

Jacob W. Is the man. Great experience. Will return for future tats. Other staff are cool as sh$t too. Super friendly. Great work! read more

Walked in for a tattoo one Saturday after driving by this place several times and reading the reviews. I had the pleasure of getting my tattoo done by Jakob and OMG I love it! He tattooed an AT AT on my right ankle and it came out amazing!! I loved his work so much I recommend him to my husband who had some work done on his arms yesterday as an early birthday present. He is passionate in his work and a big fan of Star Wars, Aliens and Predator films (like us). I definitely recommend Jakob if you're looking for an exceptional tattoo artist. We are definitely going back for more!! read more

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I'd like to give a shout out to Ramon who was my tattoo artist. I came in with a rose idea and he turned it into something amazing! He also touched up my anchor tattoo (which was done elsewhere) and made it stand out and incorporated the rose into it. Thank you so much! I am loving my new piece! I will be returning for future ideas with you sir! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - My rose tattoo done at Lucky 13 with Ramon! He's an amazing artist and also touched up my anchor tattoo. I highly recommend this artist. - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

I found April through Instagram when I was looking for tattoo artists and she's one of the best I've seen. I love that she specializes in watercolor and Disney tattoos. I gave her references and a general idea of what I wanted. 2 sessions with her and I'm extremely happy with her work. She was attentive , accommodating, and very easy to talk to. I would trust her for my next piece. One year later and I'm still recommending her to whoever sees my tattoo. Everyone in the shop was also really friendly and right when you walk in they make sure you're comfortable. You can't go wrong with coming here! read more

Lucky 13 Tattoos - I gave April separate pictures of wings, a diamond heart, and a galaxy wrapping around and she made this piece. Thanks again! - Tattoo Near Me - Alameda, California

I stopped in on a Wednesday evening, half an hour before closing to get my right ear pierced. There was no wait during that time. The gentleman and lady at the desk were both extremely nice. The piercing cost $20 and a single non-hooped earring was $25. The procedure was quick and painless. The gentleman gave me instructions on the aftercare of the earring and healing process of ear lobe. All in all, I highly recommend this place! read more

Jakob Wyrd! He is awesome! Recently had 3 small tattoos by him and am super stoked! His work is so clean and sharp. He's passionate about his work, easy to talk to and very knowledgeable. Also love his passion for Star Wars! I love the vibe in the shop. Everyone is super chill and friendly! Will definitely be going back to see Jakob. read more

Parking super sucks but the staff is hella cool & the guy who did my cover up took his time but I it didnt takE like hella days and yOu literally can't tell theRe was ever a name there.. he ended up doing a second one for me that daY toO he's pretty thorough read more

The absolute worst experience I've had with a human being in general. Los was condescending when I told him my ideas. He laughed in my face and was horrifically rude. I understand people have bad days but I've never been this treated this badly in a place of business. You're better off going to Pretty in Ink where they're professional and will take into consideration what you're looking for. I appreciate you replying and getting back to me. I would like to set an appointment to get some clarification as to what happened that day, and be sure it doesn't happen again. Please let me know what day works best for you. I can be reached at niccomp82@gmail.com read more

I was greeted by reception, and found the large waiting room with comfy sectional couches and design books. I found some drawings I liked, and fortunately Nat, the artist was available. She was very friendly, and while she made the stencil, an apprentice set up her station. I've been tattooed by approx 20 people over the years, and she's one of the best. She's light-handed, so not much pain, and quick healing. Her line work is presise and I am impressed at her use of fine lines and detail. Usually if I want a lot of detail, I will be told my piece needs to be a bit larger. I've been tattooed twice by Nat, and have another appointment tomorrow. Also, her illustrations on her station walls are really beautiful- she is an excellent artist, and could excel in any creative path she chose. read more

Came here today to have a new hoop put in my ol' helix. Got lost a little, ended up in the bar wondering, where is the tattoo shop? But with a little looking around, found the staircase into the actual parlor. First of all, the Halloween decorations TOTALLY suit the charming old building. Awesome. I love tattoo shops that have the layout that it does. You can see into every room at once. Walked into the office, and the gentleman was helping someone else but made sure to greet us. Regrettably, I did not get his name but he had a shaved head and blue eyes. He helped me select the hoop and put it in for me. All the while, really friendly guy and good conversationalist. Had I been getting pierced, I would have felt really at ease. Felt like a super sanitary shop with a competent piercer. Best part, they don't charge an arm and a leg for their jewelry! I was expecting $60 for my jeweled hoop, as that's the average price I usually pay at other professional shops, but it was only $25+$10 for him to put it in for me. Definitely would come here if I decide to get any more piercings and considering it for some tats, too. read more

First, April: I have three tattoos by April Ballar and am going in for a fourth this week. I don't know if it is her art school training or natural talent (probably a mixture of both) but she really understands image composition and color. My gawd, the work she does with color. I entrusted her with a special tie-dyed memorial tattoo for my Dad and she did not disappoint. It came out beautiful. I also have one of her water-color style tattoos that I get complimented on all the time. And she's done text for me in two different pieces (one all text and one as part of the aforementioned wc piece). Nothing but compliments! But even more important, *I* love them. I don't even know what style I'm getting in a few days because I left it up to her! And on top of all this talent, she's really nice and easy to sit with for hours at a time. Not unimportant! Now, the shop itself: I also really like the vibe of the shop. I feel comfortable there. It is a bunch of small rooms so it feels smaller than it really is. And there are lots of windows. Plus everyone I've met has been really friendly. And it seems like they enjoy working with one another. I have been in tattoo shops where I wouldn't leave my purse unattended or didn't want to be there without any friends, but that is not the case here. If I lived closer you might just find me hanging out after grabbing a drink downstairs. Haha! read more

It's been so many years since I've gotten a tattoo, I forgot how much they hurt! My tattoo artist, April was not heavy handed at all...but towards the end of my session I started to feel the pain, because it was almost a 3-hour session! She gave me extra care towards the end 'cause she could tell I was dying lol. It was a lot of work and could have taken two sessions but she knocked it out in less than 3 hours. APRIL is AMAZING!! 6 days later and my tattoo is healing, the colors look beautiful and I am so happy with the results. She messaged me to follow up, which was sweet and very much appreciated :) I'll be back in December for another one! Thanks again April :) read more